Britain Wants A Share

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 13

Britain Wants A Share

(Special Crspdt. NZPA.) LONDON, Feb. 14. Britain is demanding an active share in America’s plan for a satellite telephone system linking the entire world, says the “Daily Mail’s” air correspondent. Britain, he adds, heads a “pressure group” of 13 European and Commonwealth nations bargaining with the United States State Department 'and its Communications Satellite Corporation at a meeting in Rome. A further meeting

is planned in Bonn next month. “It is understood that Britain’s position has been weakened by the Cabinet’s rejection of plans to put up a rival system in co-operation with Europe and the Commonwealth,” says the correspondent. “European nations are backing Britain and Australia in demanding to be active partners with the United States in return for putting up ground stations and hooking up to the American satellite chain. “ They want to share in building the satellite telephone exchange that will re-

lay the radio, telephone and television signals. They also want to launch some of the satellites themselves—with the £7om Blue Streak satellite rocket being built as a joint European project. This is hoped to ensure that European industry keeps abreast of space-age technology. “But it is known that the British Minister of Aviation (Mr Julian Amery) is disappointed that Britain is not spearheading a movement to launch a separate EuropeanCommonwealth space network,” adds the correspondent.